Wednesday, January 13, 2016

January/February News

 
January/February
 
Unity Learning Center
Portland West Middle School
 
Parents,
We are a couple of weeks into our second semester and so far things are going great!  We are in the process of planning some field trips, a service learning project, and other exciting things for our students.  We invite you to take a look at our newsletter so that you will be informed of upcoming events, Unity needs and fees that are due.
We wish all of our students and each of you the very best in 2016!
 Sincerely,
Meagan Hooper, site manager
 

Fees Due

Parents, please remember that you need to pay the second semester fee before the end of the month.  The fee is $50.00.  If your student receives a free or a reduced lunch, the fee is waived.
 
Thursday, January 14 – ALL students need to stay until 5:00!
The Science Guy is coming to Unity!  He will be doing an interactive science experience from 4:00-5:00.  Please do not pick your child up until 5:00 if at all possible.  Unity has paid for The Science Guy to come see us and I would prefer if his presentation is not interrupted.

More Important News

Service Project
Unity students will be taking on a service project this nine weeks benefitting Snooty Giggles Dog Rescue.  This organization sponsors over 50 active doggy foster families and focuses on dogs that need more one-on-one attention who are overlooked by the general rescue population.
It is my goal for every student to bring at least 1 item for each week of February.  You can collect many of these items from around your house or you can collect items from family, friends, and neighbors to bring in.
We will be collecting the following items:
  • Towels
  • Blankets
  • Paper Towels
  • Clorox
  • Lysol with Bleach Spray Cleaner
  • Laundry Detergent
  • New or Gently Used Dog Beds
  • Stuffed Animals
  • Gently Used Toys
  • Lysol Cleaner with Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Garbage Bags

Unity Needs
We are in need of a few items as we are in the middle of cold and flu season

  • Clorox Wipes
  • Kleenex
  • Paper Towels
  • All Purpose Cleaner
We are always accepting new or gently used
  • Balls
  • Sports equipment
  • Games
  • Craft kits and materials

Upcoming Events

January 18

No school

February 15

No School

February 16

Parent Teacher Conference (no school for students)

Field Trip Dates

We will be going on field trips on the following dates this nine weeks.  The busses home will run at 5:30 on these days.  Permission slips will come with details about the field trips the week before each trip.

  • January 27
  • February 10
  • February 24
March 9




Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Bledsoe Creek State Park

Tuesday we headed to the park and got to get in the creek! 
 

 
The kids were super excited to dive right in and look for critters!


 
We learned all about frogs and toads from a guest speaker and although we didn't see any, we got to listen to recordings of the different frog and toad calls.


 
So, what did they find?
Lots of crawdads....crayfish...mud bugs... or whatever you like to call them!


 
It's safe to say that we all had a blast and enjoyed every second of the beautiful day!

 
Next week we will be hiking, so make sure you are dressed appropriately!

Monday, September 15, 2014

What we have been up to...

Last week was a busy week with LOADS of fun!!!
 

We played Volleyball and Kickball for Rec.


 
We went to Bledsoe Creek State Park and met the park volunteers!  There, we went over safety precautions to use while in the park and some rules and guidelines.  After that, we went on a short hike and out on the dock for a look around the water.  We saw turtles, birds, fish, and turkeys, and lots of other wildlife.  We are SUPER excited to get to the park tomorrow because we are going to GET IN THE CREEK!!!!

 
One of our groups made pancakes and eggs last week and also did an experiment with milk.  They had a great time and left with full tummies! 


 
So what's with all the shoe pictures, one might ask.  Or maybe you didn't even realize that the pictures you are seeing used to be shoes...

 
While one group was cooking a yummy breakfast, the other group was hard at work creating shoes sculptures!  They did a great job and some of our shoes are very interesting and practically unrecognizable as a shoe!
 
 
We are looking forward to more fun this week!  On tap we have another trip to Bledsoe - please remember to bring shoes you can wear in the creek!  (No flip-flops - they need to be lace up or Velcro to keep your tootsies safe in the water!)  Students will also be logging on to roblox.com to work on some engineering skills,  playing kickball again - their favorite, and one group will be making duct tape wallets while the other makes fizz inflators and balloon racers!  It's going to be another great week!

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

We are heading to the park...

Just a reminder that we are headed on our first field trip of the year today!  Please note that we will not be returning to school until close to 6:00.  To avoid excessive waiting, I would not come any earlier than 5:50 to pick up my student.  Late fees will still apply for late pick up after 6:00.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Mentos Experiment

Today in science our students did some experimenting.  Have you ever heard that Mentos will make a coke spew?  Well, we put it to the test using a variety of sodas and both fruit and mint flavored Mentos.
 
The students started by making a hypothesis.
 
 
Then, they got the experiment set up.
 
Check out the results:
 
 

One group went off a little early, but they were all successful!
 

 
The majority of students thought Root Beer would do the best, but they were wrong!  So, if you decide to try this one at home, we now know you'll need a 2 liter of Diet Coke and a pack of mint flavored Mentos.
 
Students discussed surface tension and the reaction with the ingredient gum arabic.  Scientists still haven't decided exactly what causes the reaction, and neither have our students, but they discussed several possibilities.
 
 
 
 
***PARENTS:***
 
Progress reports came home today!  Please look them over and discuss them with your student.
 
There is no school for students on Monday or Tuesday.  Tuesday is set aside for parent teacher conferences - you should have already been contacted with an appointment time if one is needed.
 
  We'll see everyone on Wednesday!  (6th graders, don't forget your social studies assignment that is due Wednesday.)
 
Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Another great week underway!

We are in the midst of another great week in Unity.  Thanks to all of you who pitched in to recruit new students!  Our numbers are great!  In fact, we are nearly bursting at the seams... and that's a good thing!
 
 
Here are many of our students working on a Unity banner for the hallway!  We have many talented artists in our bunch!

 
 
More action shots of our creativity flowing!




Today was rec and we lucked out with a football game!
 

 
White House came out to scrimmage on the practice field with West.  Several students were interested in the game, so we walked across the street and enjoyed watching for a little while.
 


 
Eventually we all got too hot, but for a little while we enjoyed the fresh air and fun watching our team!


 
Parents, please make note that although progress reports were supposed to come home today, it didn't quite happen.  You can expect them tomorrow.  Please look them over and discuss your students grades with them.  If you notice an area of concern and need my help, please let me know!


 
We had a great Wednesday and I can't wait to see everyone tomorrow to end our Unity week with another great day!

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Bledsoe Creek, Here We Come!


Dear Parents,


We have been presented with an exciting opportunity yet again!  Bledsoe Creek State Park has extended an invitation for us to participate in the Junior Ranger Program!  For students that participated last year, don’t worry, they have a whole new program for this fall!  This is an opportunity for our students to travel to Bledsoe Creek State Park one day a week (every Tuesday) to learn from the park rangers and volunteers!  Last year we had a blast hiking, fishing, and wading in the creek.  I can hardly wait to see what they have in store for us this year!  The trip will take place every Tuesday from September 9 – October 30.  We will leave school around 3:30 and return at 6:00.  If you have a serious conflict with our plans, please see me as soon as possible so that we might make arrangements for your child if possible.  I will be posting a permission slip at the sign out table soon, so please be watching for that. 
 
Also, please scroll down to see posts from last year!  There are several from Bledsoe Creek State Park and our adventures with them back in the Spring!
 
Have a great Wednesday!
 
Meagan Hooper